How To Be An Activist As a Sensitive Person and Introvert
“I feel like I’m never doing enough.”
“I’d love to use my strengths without overwhelming what my heart, mind and body needs.”
“I want to be part of this but feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start.”
“I want to be present at protests but feel overstimulated, anxious and burned out.”
“I want to be part of these important conversations but want to be mindful about my energy.”
“I feel guilty that I need to take breaks, sleep more, decompress or have to engage in self-care when others are rallying around the clock. I’m guilty about having the privilege to even have to need these breaks.”
“I try to get involved, then get tired and go silent because I’ve burned myself out.”
“I want to make meaningful change but I don’t want to make small talk with others.”
“When I hear or see other people cry, hurt, in pain, angry - it is difficult to me to regulate my own emotions as I feel myself taking on their trauma and experiences.”
You may have heard a variation of these statements made by a sensitive person or introvert (maybe you’re thinking of them yourself!) as you process all the information, emotions and what is not being said in the room.
Highly sensitive people carry a deep well of empathy and an urge to do more but the reality is, we are wired to process things on a deeper level that impacts our nervous systems (which then leads us to 'feel' the physical manifestations).
So I thought it helpful to share things that have been helpful for me as a community leader within the social impact space. Over the past 13 years, I’ve had to experiment, adapt and explore what ways I can make a meaningful difference without the burn out or overwhelm. Whether you're participating in the rallies and movement against racism towards the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community, still fighting for justice with Black Live Matters or you care deeply about a cause, I hope these can be helpful for you in some way.
FEELINGS:
Injustice, Racism, Inequality and all the social issues of the world can be incredibly painful. It's important to feel the full range of emotions - anger, sadness, rage, frustration, joy, hope, love, etc - and find ways to express them. You can take a walk, journal, sing, move your body or share it with a trusted friend or therapist. I find the non-violent communication resources to be helpful in identifying the emotions I’m experiencing.
UNPLUG:
This will help you avoid burnout or getting overwhelmed with everything. You don't need to dedicate all your Sundays to Self Care! Scheduling regular mini breaks throughout the day or week can be transformative and re-energising. Taking time to process what you're thinking and feeling will better serve you and help you show up in an intentional way rather than feeling pressured to act immediately and do as others do.
SUSTAINABLE:
Remind yourself that it's a marathon, not a sprint. You don't need to do what everyone else is doing and show up in ways that energise you.
BOUNDARIES:
Set boundaries around your time, energy, mental well-being, emotional labour, the space you need, etc. This also relates to limiting how much time you spend on social media, watching the news or being part of conversations that can be triggering or emotionally loaded.
GROUND:
As a sensitive, you feel everything deeply. Knowing what keeps you grounded, what calms your nervous system, what helps you sleep, what prevents compassion fatigue - can be helpful! It's different for everyone but having a level of self-awareness of what you need can be a helpful tool. P.S Mine are walks in nature, cuddling with the dogs, nourishing meals and laughter with my husband.
CONNECT:
Whether it's a significant other, family member, friend or therapist - know who you can reach out to when things are feeling a bit 'too much'. Create opportunities to connect with people who know your heart, can hold safe space and help you navigate what the next best step might be.
QUIET:
Being quiet but showing up in other ways can be just as powerful as getting on a loud speaker. There are many other ways that you can support a cause you care deeply about from writing a blog post (like I'm doing now!), giving financially to organisations who are on the frontlines, offering back-end or behind-the-scenes support, starting a book club, having a conversation with your own community, etc.
FOCUS:
Find ways to focus your energy and time to your own sphere of influence. You can also explore who else is working to move the needle in what you're working on and see if you can collaborate and share resources.
LEAD:
Lead with the activities that energise you, that come easily to you, that others remark are your superpowers that you can do without thinking. And most importantly, lead from your heart. Staying true to who you are, celebrating your unique abilities and leaning in to serve from a place of love will take you far.
So how can you show up as a sensitive person and introvert?
Here are some ideas to spark inspiration and creativity (the possibilities are endless, of course)!
Give financially to an organisation that does the work well for a cause you believe in
Support organisations/individuals with much-needed supplies
Online activism. Whether it’s contributing to a hashtag, sharing a post, signing online petitions, share your own thoughts, amplifying the voice and message of other activists, community leaders and causes.
Support behind-the-scenes. Maybe it’s facilitating ZOOM meetings, letter-writing, administrative tasks, joining committees, etc.
Create something. Artwork, painting, bake a cake, write a song, recite a poem, etc - and share the important message through creative expression.
Connect with your community. No matter where you live, chances are you know at least one person you can have a conversation with and communicate a message. Your friends, family, a neighbour… start there!
Consume Consciously. Support BIPOC-owned small businesses, purchase from brands and companies that align with your values and impact the world positively.
Hold a Book Club. You can facilitate it on your own or do it with a group of friends.
Be a Listening Ear, Safe Space and Sound board for others.
…..and lots, lots more!
You have a big heart and sensitive strengths that can truly change the world. It’s time to go for it - without burnout or the overwhelm. I’m rooting for you!